There was a clash between the crowd who participated at the ceremony
and the protesters, while the police had launched tear gas and water
cannons to dissolve the crowd. According to Hiru TV reporters, the Prime
Minister’s Security Division has seized the drone camera which they
have been using to report the incident.

Free Media Movement (FMM) condemns this act and issued a statement urging the Media Minister to
investigate about the incident, punish the perpetrators and take
necessary steps to avoid such disconcerting incidents in the future.

Bellow is the full text of the issued statement by Seetha Ranjani & C. Doawatte respectively the Convener & the Secretary of FMM :

While vehemently condemning the seizing of drone camera of the Hiru
TV while reporting the protest against Sri Lanka-China joint venture in
Mirijjawila, Hambantota, the Free Media Movement states that it is a
grave violation of professional rights of journalists. The inauguration
ceremony was held for the investment zone with the participation of the
Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe on 07th January 2016 and a protest
has been organized by the opposition politicians.

There was a clash between the crowd who participated at the ceremony
and the protesters, while the police had launched tear gas and water
cannons to dissolve the crowd. According to Hiru TV reporters, the Prime
Minister’s Security Division has seized the drone camera which they
have been using to report the incident.

The camera was returned in the afternoon, with the involvement of the
Director General of the Government Information Department, however,
without the chip that contained the recordings. The Free Media Movement,
taking this incident seriously, states that this incident that obstacle
the professional rights of the media who works for the realization of
people’s right to information, would give a malevolent picture to the
world about Sri Lanka.

Especially, the act of seizing the memory chip of the camera depicts
that journalists are unable to provide free information to the people,
even though one of the world’s best Right to Information Act has been
passed. Therefore, the Free Media Movement urges the Media Minister to
investigate about the incident, punish the perpetrators and take
necessary steps to avoid such disconcerting incidents in the future.